Separable connector for electrical conductors.



Q. J. KLEIN. SEPARABLE CONNECTOR FOR ELECTRICAL CONDUCTORS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 13. 1913.

Patented July 6, 1915.

Mcmwgg mrnn sT 'rns PATENT OFFICE. 1

CHARLES J. KLEIN, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO THE CUTLER-HAMMER MFG. 00., OF MILWAUHE, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION OF WISCONSIN;

SEPARABLE CONNECTOR FOR ELECTRICAL CONDUCTORS.

Application filed January 13, 1913. Serial No. 741,775.

To all whom "it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES J. KLEIN,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of Wisconsin, have invented new and useful- Improvements in separable Connecv specificatlon.

My invention relates to separable connectors for electrical conductors.

It has among its objects to provide an improved longitudinally separable connector wherein the contact members engage each other snugly in such a manner as to prevent accidental longitudinal separation thereof and the bases carrying the same are locked against relative rotation by means independent of the contacts. 1

Other objects and advantages of my improved construction will hereinafter appear.

In order that my invention may be fully and clearly disclosed, I have illustrated one embodiment of the same in the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is a central longitudinal view of the two parts of the connector positioned one above the other. Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view of the connector in circuit closing position. Fig. 3 is a perspective .view of the contact members.

The device illustrated herein is of the single pole type. It comprises an insulating base 1 carrying contacts?) and 4 therein and adapted to receive a second insulating base 2 carrying a single contact member-5, the said bases being longitudinally separable but locked against relative rotation and accidental longitudinal separation.

The base 1 is substantially cylindrical in shape and is provided in. its lower end with '1. chamber 6 of substantially cylindrical shape, which communicates with .a smaller chamber 7 above the same. A conductor oove 8 is provided in the'upper end of the base 1 leading to the recess 7, to,permit the conductor to be brought in to the same. The contact members 3 and 4 are embedded in the top of the base and extend vertically downward parallel to each other through the center of the chamber 6 into the chamber 7 The contact member 3 is rigid. The

Specification of Letters Batent.

' slhaped wall for far into each Patented July a", 1915.

contact member 4 is lighter and resilient. Near its lower end the resilient member 4 is provided with an inwardly extending projection or knob 9 having a function' here-.

inafter described. In a preferred form a.

terminal member 10 is formed integral with the rigid contact 3 and is bent back therefrom substantially at right angles, so I that it protrudes opposite the conductor opening 8. In order to attach the conducv tor to this terminal member, a binding screw 11 is provide The base 2 is provided with a single contact 5 which extends vertically upward in a chamber 12 formed therein and has its lower end embedded in the material of the base in substantially the same manner as the 4 contacts 3 and 4 already described. This contact is likewise rigid and near its upper end is provided with a slightly elongated round ed opening 13 adapted to receive the *projection 9 on the resilient contact 4 when the contact 5 is forced in between the contacts 3 and 4. As in the case of the contact 3 on the base 1, this contact 5 on the base 2,

is likewise provided with an integral terminal lug 14 extending substantially at right angles thereto and carrying a binding screw 15. In 'a preferred'form this lug likewise extends'over a vertically extending conductor opening 16 which communicates with thedchamher in which the contact 5 is carr1e In order to prevent the angular relation of the two parts of the device and the consequent strain on-t-he contact members, I preferably provide the base 2 with a flattened surface 17 on one side of the same,

preferably the side opposite theconductor opening '8 and provi a correspondingly the c amber 6 in the base As shown in Fig. .1, I also preferably provide a horizontally disposed edge or shoulder 18 adjacent this flattened surface,

which is adapted to engage with the; lower edge of the base 1 when the two'bases are brought together, and serve as a stop to prevent the two partsfrom being forced too 1 other. In a preferred formal-"I also provide a shoulder 19 at the top of fie chamber 6, which is adapted to engage t e top of the base 2 at the same time that the shoulder 18 engages the bottom of the base- 1. In this way I am able to'1imiteh m -ment of theinembers land 2 without posing any undue strain-on any of the'con- 1 tacts.

v. Vl/hen it is desired to connect-the device 111- circuit,;tlieendsof the'conductor vare at- I tached to the --binding screws on the-terminal I pla'tes. By reason of the fact that the conends of the members 1 and 2',

of attaching the-conductors is rendered very" uponthe contact member 5 f the'contacts 3 andA: and is 21 the resilient tact screws are accessiblefthrough'. the open -res'ponding flattened side on the basel and thepartsare locked against rotation.

Obviously, my improvement i'snot lim- {itediin its application to single pole con-' nectors, but'may be adapted to use in connecti-on with'double poledevi'ces, if desired. llhis, and various other modifications which will be evident to one skilled in the artall fall within the purview of mv invention.

What'll clalm as new and deslre'to secure by Letters'lnatent is g L h separable connector comprising. a

this process tation of said bases. Y I 2. A separable connector comprising telescoping molded bases having. recesses on passes betweena single rotary.

pair of bases,- one receivable in the other and each having conductor openings in its ends, contact members engaging each other when the bases are brought together: and having laterally extending integral terminal members protruding substantially at right-anglesthereto adjacent said conductor openings, and-means independent of said contact members for preventing relative roth eir adjacent faces, the interfitting portions of said bases being of non-circular crosssection to permit their telescoping only in relationand to thereafter h'oldthe same against relative rotation, a pair ofcontact fingers molded in one of said bases and disposed in the recess thereof, and a contact finger molded in the other of said bases and disposed in the recess thereof, said contacts interlocking to hold said bases againstseparation.

In Witness whereof, I- have hereunto subscribed my' name in the vpresence of two witnesses, i

CHARLES J. KLEIN.

- Witnesses:

TH. ROCKWELL, JEANETTE S. .BRooK. 

